L&T Partners With U.S Giant General Atomics to Build MALE Drones in India

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) on Friday announced a landmark collaboration with U.S.-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) to manufacture Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for the Indian Armed Forces. The partnership is being hailed as a major stride in India’s push toward self-reliance in defence manufacturing and a milestone in Indo-U.S. defence cooperation.

Under this agreement, L&T and GA-ASI will jointly manufacture MALE-class unmanned aircraft systems in India. The deal combines L&T’s engineering and system integration expertise with GA-ASI’s globally proven RPAS technology, known for its millions of flight hours in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike missions. The collaboration will enable the production of GA-ASI’s MQ-series RPAS, a family of combat-proven drones already operational with multiple nations.

According to reports, this partnership is strategically aligned with the Indian Ministry of Defence’s upcoming programme to procure 87 MALE RPAS, a ₹20,000–30,000 crore project that aims to equip the Army, Navy, and Air Force with advanced indigenous drones. L&T is expected to act as the prime bidder, while GA-ASI will serve as the technology partner, providing design and system expertise to ensure the platforms meet operational standards required by the Indian Armed Forces.

The Ministry of Defence has already issued the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the 87-drone programme, clearing the path for formal tenders. The upcoming Request for Proposal (RFP) is expected to prioritise Indian firms capable of ensuring over 60% indigenous content—precisely where L&T’s industrial strength lies.

“This partnership offers India a unique opportunity to manufacture state-of-the-art unmanned platforms indigenously,” said S.N. Subrahmanyan, Chairman and Managing Director of L&T. “We are proud to join hands with GA-ASI, a recognised world leader in this domain, and are confident that this alliance will significantly enhance India’s defence capabilities and advance self-reliance in aerospace technologies.”

Echoing that sentiment, Dr. Vivek Lall, Chief Executive of General Atomics Global Corporation, said the partnership “exemplifies GA-ASI’s commitment to supporting India’s vision for self-reliance and indigenous manufacturing.” He added that combining GA-ASI’s proven RPAS technology with L&T’s robust production base will deliver cutting-edge systems to strengthen the Indian armed forces and build a sustainable aerospace ecosystem in the country.

The deal represents more than a commercial partnership; it is a strategic alignment of industrial and defence interests. L&T, already a key contributor to India’s defence ecosystem, has worked with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and various armed forces on systems across land, sea, and air domains. Its manufacturing portfolio includes weapon delivery systems, radar and surveillance platforms, aerospace components, and naval vessels, including frontline warships and submarines. The company’s foray into unmanned systems marks an expansion of its footprint into the high-growth field of aerial robotics.

For GA-ASI, the collaboration reflects its growing footprint in India. The American firm has been increasingly involved in partnerships to support India’s drone ecosystem, notably for the MQ-9B HALE drone programme, where Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will provide maintenance and overhaul support for engines. The new L&T partnership adds the crucial manufacturing component, moving production from assembly to full integration in India.

Industry observers view this development as perfectly timed. India’s 87 MALE RPAS programme seeks to create dual production lines among two Indian manufacturers to ensure scale, competition, and export capability. L&T’s strong infrastructure, backed by GA-ASI’s technical pedigree, gives it a competitive advantage as the Ministry finalises participants for the next stage of procurement.

The partnership also reflects India’s growing emphasis on building a globally competitive aerospace base. With the armed forces requiring drones capable of 30+ hours endurance, 35,000 feet altitude, and precision strike capabilities, the L&T-GA-ASI combination appears well-suited to meet both operational and indigenous production requirements.

On the market front, investor sentiment responded positively to the announcement. L&T’s share price traded at ₹4,017.00 (+29.20) per scrip as of 10:19 a.m. on October 31, 2025, reflecting optimism about the company’s expanding defence and aerospace portfolio.

Beyond market performance, however, the partnership underscores India’s larger ambition—to replace dependency with domestic capability. As global supply chains tighten and defence technology becomes increasingly strategic, initiatives like this are not just industrial moves but geopolitical statements.

If the collaboration successfully transitions from pact to production, it could mark the birth of India’s indigenous MALE drone industry, bridging the technology gap between surveillance platforms and strike-capable UAVs. It positions India to not only equip its armed forces but also emerge as a credible exporter of advanced unmanned systems in the coming decade.